What are kids and young adults collecting these days?

September 22, 2019 5:21 AM

Kids and young adults used to collect baseball cards, stamps, and coins, but have times changed? What are the "hot" things that they collect these days?
posted by mortaddams to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (14 answers total)

My neighbor's oldest boy collects rocks and minerals but he may not be typical. So did my daughter and so did I.
posted by Botanizer at 5:28 AM on September 22, 2019 [2 favorites]

pokemon cards, still. the number of arguments I witnessed over pokemon cards at my last elementary school was WILD.

other things I've known (multiple) kiddos to collect:
- stickers
- rocks and other ground miscellanea (leaves, flower petals)
- a specific toy (my little pony, LOL dolls, pokemon toys)
- soccer cards
- toy horses or dogs (like fancy ones)
- american girl doll stuff
- legos
posted by goodbyewaffles at 6:13 AM on September 22, 2019 [3 favorites]

Stuffies (small stuffed animals), Pokemon cards, Magic the Gathering cards, as well as the standbys of large tree branches, cool rocks, shells, insect exoskeletons, and foreign coins & bills. One of my kiddos collects "gems" (quartzes and other polished stones). They don't get my stamp collection until they're older.
posted by cocoagirl at 6:16 AM on September 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

Lots of people collect those Funko Pop figures.
posted by maybeandroid at 6:50 AM on September 22, 2019 [8 favorites]

Here’s what we’ve progressed through in my house in recent years:

- Beanie Boos
- Littlest Pet Shop
- LOLs
- Num Noms
- Shopkins
- Pikmi Pops
- Hatchimal Colleggtibles
- Party Pop Teenies

Colleggtibles have been the most enduring and seem to be the most widespread among other classmates.
posted by kittydelsol at 6:55 AM on September 22, 2019

My 16yo is sort of circling back around to the things he liked when he was little, so Pokemon cards, Pokemon via Pokemon Go (which he and his friends play semi-ironically yet play they do) and Magic cards.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:16 AM on September 22, 2019

Instagram followers.
posted by scrubjay at 8:21 AM on September 22, 2019 [8 favorites]

Erasers, as of last year, but they might not be cool any more.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:58 AM on September 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

My 9 and 6 year old boys are into Pokemon cards. When they were both younger they liked to collect rocks. The girls I know all collect different things. Keychains, erasers, these little stuffies with big eyes (sorry don’t know the brand).
posted by katypickle at 9:03 AM on September 22, 2019

During world cup seasons, young soccer fans collect and trade Panini player stickers
posted by Morpeth at 2:01 PM on September 22, 2019

My 11 yo daughter has collected baseball cards for years.
posted by gaspode at 4:02 PM on September 22, 2019

Kids in music scenes collect limited run concert posters. They have special tubes they take to shows.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:52 PM on September 22, 2019

High school and college age - stickers. They cover their laptops, water bottles, mini-fridges, etc. My daughter is collecting to cover her luggage. Tons of business will send you free stickers and lots of places sell them for a few dollars. Many have cool artwork and logos. Think coffee shops, clothing lines, dispensaries, outdoor stores, restaurants, donut shops, sports lines (lacrosse, ski, skate boarding).
posted by maxg94 at 7:26 AM on September 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

I think collecting pins is pretty big these days. For example.

Often displayed on lanyards, wall banners/boards, jackets, purse straps, backpacks, etc.
posted by castlebravo at 8:00 AM on September 23, 2019 [1 favorite]